Celiac Guide

Celiac disease, sometimes also termed Celiac sprue or Gluten enteropathy, is a genetically influenced condition that results from eating gluten.

Celiac disease, sometimes also termed Celiac sprue or Gluten enteropathy, is a genetically influenced condition that results from eating gluten. More specifically, it is an ailment whereby the lining of the small intestine, called the intestinal mucosa, is chronically damaged by gluten proteins and their interaction with the immune system. It is identified by small intestinal villous atrophy that resolves when gluten is withdrawn from the diet. The illness may become apparent at any age, from infancy to old age, may remain asymptomatic, and may only be detected incidentally. Gluten is a group of proteins derived from wheat, barley and rye but not from oats, rice or maize. Alpha-gliadin is the most toxic portion of gluten.

The Celiac Iceberg

The condition is grossly under diagnosed, but we know that when actively looked for, incidence rates are between 1 in 100 to 200 people. There is a phenomenon called the Celiac Iceberg, and at the tip of the iceberg are those that are diagnosed with Celiac disease. There is a larger portion, nearly half, below them who have what is known as silent disease. More than half of all biopsy-proven Celiacs have no abdominal symptoms at all at the time of diagnosis, even though intestinal damage has been occurring for years. One might argue that if there are no symptoms, one should leave the patient alone with no intervention. Tragically, however, as discussed in many medical journals, the first signs of a problem in those with silent Celiac disease may be cancer. Finally there is a still larger base portion with latent disease. That is to say that if they were tested for antibodies for tissue transglutaminase (a marker for Celiac disease), they would test positive, but demonstrate no pathology, and yet years later Celiac disease may develop fully.

Symptoms

The symptoms associated with Celiac disease are many and varied, which is one of the reasons why it goes un- or misdiagnosed so often. The malabsorption resulting from Celiac disease causes diarrhoea and weight loss, although some recent commentators note an increasing number of untreated patients who are normal weight or overweight. Inability to absorb fats causes steatorrhoea, with bulky, pale, foul smelling stools that float in water due to their high fat content. Anaemia caused by iron deficiency is common, and the malabsorption of calcium and Vitamin D increases the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Patients may complain of abdominal pain and tiredness, while around 10% of patients present with neurological complaints, ranging from mild peripheral neuropathy to more severe central nervous system disturbance.

A small number of people present with a blistering rash, typically on elbows and buttocks, called dermatitis herpetiformis, which is associated with antibodies to tTG reacting with a form of this enzyme in dermal cells.

Possibly as a result of chronic inflammation, people with uncontrolled Celiac disease are at increased risk of developing intestinal neoplasms, particularly intestinal lymphoma. This risk is substantially reduced by strict adherence to a gluten-free diet.

All these signs and symptoms disappear when gluten is omitted from the diet, and reappear if it is reintroduced.

The American Journal of Gastroenterology notes that currently physicians do a poor job of diagnosing Celiac disease: only 50% of patients consider that they were diagnosed promptly; 27% consulted two or more gastroenterologists before diagnosis; and only 30-50% consider their Consultant knowledgeable about diagnosis and treatment.

Diseases and conditions associated with Celiac disease

Liver diseases

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Microscopic colitis

Lymphocytic gastritis

Crohn’s disease

Ulcerative colitis

Dermatitis herpetiformis

Alopecia areata

Type 1 diabetes

Autoimmune thyroid disease

Addison disease

Arthritis

Osteoporosis

Sjogren syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Neuropathy

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Cerebellar ataxia

Iron deficiency

Epilepsy (with occipital calcifications)

Hyposplenism

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Down syndrome

Autoimmune myocarditis

Turner syndrome

The incidence of concomitant Celiac disease occurring with most of these conditions is high enough (>5%) to warrant screening for Celiac disease in these patients. Screening should also be considered for first degree family members.

Diagnosis

Small Intestinal Biopsy

The biopsy is simply a sample of the cells in the intestinal wall, an area that has a swift turnover of cells, and heals itself quite rapidly. In many, although not all cases, the intestine will appear perfectly normal after a couple of weeks on a strict gluten free diet.

The biopsy is taken by use of an endoscopy. This is a process whereby a small tube is passed down the throat, through the stomach, and into the small intestine. Tiny tissue samples are then taken from the intestinal wall for subsequent examination under a microscope. A normal biopsy will show many finger like projections from the surface of the intestinal wall. These are called villi, and increase the surface area of the intestinal wall available for absorption of nutrients. At least four biopsies should be taken, as villous atrophy is occasionally patchy. If the biopsy shows villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia and increased intra-epithelial lymphocytes, and a gluten free diet leads to an improvement on a second later biopsy, then Celiac disease is the diagnosis.

Gluten challenge

This involves eating multiple daily servings of gluten rich foods, and then gauging the body’s reactions. This process is often undertaken by patients who have been on a gluten exclusion diet for a prolonged period of time. Dr James Braly notes that if a patient has already been on a gluten free diet, and the intestinal wall has started to heal, it can take a long period of time for sufficient damage to reappear in a biopsy.

Endomysium Antibody (EMA) testing

Endomysium is connective tissue found in the sheath of certain muscle fibres, and antibodies against this tissue are found in 90% of Celiacs who are consuming gluten; the antibodies disappear quite quickly after the exclusion of gluten. This test demonstrated that Celiac disease was an autoimmune problem by definition, since the antibodies attacked endomysium. The detection of these antibodies by immunofluorescence has a reported 85-98% sensitivity and 97-100% specificity.

Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) Antibody testing

This type of test is fairly new on the scene. Transglutaminase is an enzyme that forms a part of endomysium and is involved in the repair of tissue. The tTG test identifies about 98% of those who have Celiac disease. It is commercially available as the Biocard Celiac Test. The detection of these antibodies using an ELISA assay is more sensitive but less specific than EMA (particularly in Down’s Syndrome and autoimmune disease).

IgA anti-gliadin antibody tests have moderate sensitivity but poor specificity, and their use is limited to the evaluation of symptomatic children under the age of two years.

Rectal Challenge

This delightfully titled test is a procedure that can be carried out in a doctor’s surgery, giving a clear result in a matter of hours. The test involves taking a biopsy of the rectal mucosa. Then gluten slurry is placed into the biopsy site, and another biopsy taken four or more hours later. Computer analysis will identify any immune reaction to gluten. The obvious criticism of this test is that it is both embarrassing and uncomfortable.

Management of Celiac disease

The recommended treatment is a gluten free diet (GFD) for life. Symptomatic improvement is reported with 70% of patients within two weeks. 85% of all patients respond to a GFD, although histological resolution may take 3-12 months. There is also now good evidence that this decreases the risk of small intestinal malignancy.

50% of patients with Celiac disease have secondary hypolactasia at diagnosis. Dairy products should be continued, and if they cause a problem, then ingestion of other foods high in calcium should be encouraged; alternatively use of a good bio-absorbable calcium supplement is recommended.
Iron and folate supplements are needed if there is a deficiency.

Gluten Free Diet (GFD)

A gluten-free diet means not eating foods that contain wheat (including spelt, triticale, and kamut), rye, and barley. The foods and products made from these grains are also not allowed. In other words, a person with Celiac disease should not eat most grain, pasta, cereal, and many processed foods. Despite these restrictions, people with Celiac disease can eat a well balanced diet with a variety of foods, including gluten-free bread and pasta. For example, people with Celiac disease can use potato, rice, soy, amaranth, quinoa, or bean flour instead of wheat flour. They can buy gluten-free bread, pasta, and other products from stores that carry organic foods, or order products from special food companies. Gluten-free products are increasingly available from health food stores and supermarkets.

Checking labels for “gluten free” is vital, since many corn and rice products are produced in factories that also manufacture wheat products. Hidden sources of gluten include additives such as modified food starch, preservatives, and stabilizers. Wheat and wheat products are often used as thickeners, stabilizers, and texture enhancers in foods.
The gluten-free diet is challenging. It requires a completely new approach to eating that affects a person’s entire life. Newly diagnosed people and their families may find support groups to be particularly helpful as they learn to adjust to a new way of life. People with Celiac disease have to be extremely careful about what they buy for lunch at school or work, what they purchase when food shopping, what they eat at restaurants or parties, or what they grab for a snack. Eating out can be a challenge. If a person with Celiac disease is in doubt about a menu item, ask the waiter or chef about ingredients and preparation, or if a gluten-free menu is available.

Gluten is also used in some medications. One should check with the pharmacist to learn whether prescribed medications contain gluten. Since gluten is also sometimes used as an additive in unexpected products, it is important to read all labels. If the ingredients are not listed on the product label, the manufacturer of the product should provide the list upon request. With practice, screening for gluten becomes second nature.

Foods to avoid

Grains, flours and breads
Wheat, rye, barley and possibly oats, millet and buckwheat. Beware of anything with malt added, as this is usually barley malt.

Fruit and Vegetables
All tinned fruit and vegetables should be considered suspect until you are sure that they do not contain preservatives, stabilisers, emulsifiers and a food starch with gluten in it.

Cheeses
Avoid cheeses that contain preservatives, such as cheeses spreads and dips, unless you are sure that the preservative does not contain gluten.

Drinks and juices
Do not drink any instant coffee, tea, drinking chocolate or ground coffees that contain grain. Avoid all beers, ales and anything made from grain like whisky, bourbon and most liqueurs. Check processed fruit drinks in case they use a preservative containing gluten.

Salad dressings
Unless you are certain they are gluten free, avoid all commercial salad dressings.

Soups
Most tinned soups, soup mixes and gravy in powdered or cubed form are not gluten free.

Desserts
Products prepared with grains are not allowed, as are ice cream and cones containing gluten, along with all commercial cake mixes and biscuits.

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